if Earth had been suddenly engulfed in a wandering star, as if all known and familiar thin

left loomed the absurd bulk of the upturned trolley, on its back with wheels in air, lookin

us all right? Kin you look after

things?" I r

We'll beat it right off, an' I hope to

two blue-coated figures scrambling up the steep, scarred sides of the viaduct. Frantically the

, and my heart contracted with a gre

behind me, her hand pillowing her cheek as if she slept. And as I knelt beside her to listen fear

as if all the world lay in the hollow of the meadow about me and ti

ir had fallen across her eyes. I smoothed it softly back and my fingers brushed her hair lightly and s

own I found them turned to mine. She smiled, sigh

should like to s

fully. "Are you a

inly. "I think so.

very straight and a little apart, busying herself about her dress, giving a practised touch t

pily knee-deep in a small pool. A meadow-lark rose and crossed the field in

?" she asked s

the trolley lay t

d sprang to her feet, then

y life," she said. "Speak to it kindly, Mr. Crosby;

fraid that it will have to stay t

get home? Where are the crew, an

bsolutely forgott

The sallow, foreign face was yellow white, the plump hands were gripped, as if in some past convulsive agony, abov

my arm. "Do you think that she-t

vably slow. But as I still fumbled the pulpy hand caught mine in a grip that made me winc

some one turn down the light?" A long convulsive tremor ran o

abor s

med to clutch me. Then I gave myself a mental shake and caught my hat from the ground. "You will have to sta

word, and I made off across the meado

hed what little water my hat still h

k-luster eyes looked into min

severity of tone was softly unctuous and vaguely Latin. "A very dangerous

th pity. Evidently the woma

for a little while you

hension was coming back. She took out a crumple

they are expecting me home already." She glanced anxiously at the little watch at

ut perhaps she can walk. Do you think that s

and look for an easier place. But I am afraid

ry low voices, but

ore the car will arrive.

ed, for I had not see

minutes. The car will arrive then.

n I stepped over to the place where I had fallen and poked about in the grass. My pocketbook, I

me. "Nothing missing,"

nd she pointed to where it lay near

und her standing with her hand at her nec

ve lost somet

yes were afraid, "there was a little gold chain

rtain serenity, that to see her now, with frightened eyes staring and full of tears, pain written clear

g so tragic in the loss of a little chain. Then I knew better, knew that if she valued it

ground where we had fallen, carefully and on her knees. I thought th

r face seemed buried in her hand

said listlessly, "you will find

saw the glimmer of a strand of gold str

n I stood dumbly, the thing in my hands, my mind reeling